The Damned Band By: Robert B. Moore

“Morale is low in Anzio. Send up the band!” Bob Morton
stood against the railing of the ship staring at the
Mediterranean water, and thought how well the sea and
the desert paced themselves: how easily they overcame
the clamors of wars that echoed down the wind and
joined the artifacts of Roman legions. Morton recalled
the changing emotional pattern that mellowed the
thoughtless courage of youth and replaced it with
inarticulate knowledge, unspoken understanding, and
kindness, from the comradeship shared in sacrifice. He
recalled the words echoed in Fort Knox, “Music is a
touch with the intangible. It gives men encouragement
and lightens the burden somewhat.” A tall, raw-boned
infantryman walked up next to Morton and looked out
over the expanse of water, “Well buddy, I reckon it’s
over for us.”